Steel or aluminium or wooden gazebo?

[Rab]

As we have good weather forecast and because the garden is very overlooked, I want to buy and DIY erect one of those gazebos with the fabric roof panels.

To be up all year round and to remove the fabric to store indoors over the winter months. 3m x 3m size.

My question is, which type is best? ie. Strongest and long-lasting and low maintenance? And affordable!

I went to look at a local secondhand one, made of heavy duty aluminium. I thought the two weight-bearing horizontal crossbars were sagging a bit in the middle. The owners claim it is only 6 months old and they're asking £300. I don't know if rainwater can find its way into the sections and make it heavy and sag or otherwise corrode the metal.
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I found this steel sliding gazebo 356/6572 55.8kg at Argos for £200. Upright posts are 75 x 75mm:

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/3566572.

I would have thought steel should be galvanised but Argos call it powder coated. That's just paint, right?

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Then I found this aluminium Rowlinson "Latina" 40kg online for nearly twice the price of the Argos steel one, at £380:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/rowlinson-lat ... 0wodDL8A9A

Upright posts are 75 x 75mm.

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And a Condate aluminium one 31.8kg for £320:

https://www.alicesgarden.co.uk/product/ ... ey#details

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And I'm still looking but would be glad to get some opinions, especially if you have one or have installed one. Thanks.

[Rab]

I also like this Palermo 3x3m with polycarbonate roof, though at £750 it is beyond my budget:

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/p/palram-p ... ebo-183684

Maybe a near flat poly roof could be added to one of the cheaper models for a fraction of the cost?

[kellys_eye]

Powder coating is not 'paint' but an electrostatically deposited plastic coating and very robust.

Avoid steel (if you have a choice) otherwise without actually seeing the things you are pretty much subject to a coin toss!

[Rab]

A neighbour told me that steel is stronger than aluminium.

But steel rusts....

Thanks for your input. I'm gonna go see some of these at the garden centres.

[Nos]

Most of the fabric ones will only last a year or two, the wind and Uvs eventually weaken the fabric and it will tear and need replacing, if you are sure that they will still be making that model in two or three years fine you can get a new cover then, best bet IMHO is to buy two or three spare covers now, the frame will last I have a 3.5x3.5 out here, its about seven years old the metal frame is fine the canvas roof went a long time ago, use it for climbing plants now.

[kellys_eye]

Find a local sail maker. They can manufacture covers that will easily withstand UV and weather. Not the cheapest way to go but over time it will certainly work to your advantage.

I had a rear deck cover made for a Ford Ranger for £80 - blue tarp (real heavy duty), sturdiest eyelets you could ever find! and it's still in use 6 years later with hardly a mark on it. Ok, it was only 8ft x 6ft but that's a ballpark starting point to get a decent heavy-duty cover that will last.